Folding article



WM www gebJ, 1949. R M, KRASKA 2,460,459

FOLDING ARTICLES VFiled March 13, 1947 2 Sl'xeS-SheeiI l R. M. KRASKAFOLDING ARTICLES :Feb l, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y Filed March 13, 1947 Patented Feb. l, 1949 FOLDINGARTICLE Reinhold M. Kraska, Altadena, Calif., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Al R. Brooks, doing business as Aluminum Folding CrutchCompany, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 13, 1947, Serial No. 734,352

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to folding articles of the type in whichthe framework thereof may be collapsed to provide a compact article forstorage purposes or for carrying in an automobile. In a more narrowaspect of the present invention it relates to a folding wheel chairwhich may be easily and readily folded and extended.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means wherebyarticles such as folding wheel chairs, tables and the like may be easilyand readily folded and extended as the occasion requires.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improvedwheel chair characterized by the improved manner in which thecollapsible structure thereof may be manipulated to fold or extend thechair.

Another specic object of the present invention is to provide an improvedwheel chair having a collapsible framework whereby the chair may be Workto thereby allow conversion of the wheel chair for convenient propulsionby the person in the chair or by a maid or nurse or other person who mayconveniently shove the chair.

Still another specific object of the present invention is to provide animproved wheel chair having the seat and back portion thereon of exiblematerial and the manual control handle for collapsing and extending theframework of the chair at a convenient convealed position underneath theseat of the chair.

Yet another specific object of the present invention is to provide animproved collapsible wheel chair having steering handles thereon, thecollapsible framework of the chair being movable from its folded or itscollapsed position to its extended position by simply moving thesteering handles apart.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide animproved wheel chair, the framework of which includes a pair of steeringhandles and which may be easily and readily moved from its folded orcollapsed position to its extended position by merely moving the handlesapart; but, for safety purposes, the framework of the wheel chair maynot be collapsed by movement of the steering handles, manipulation of acontrol member not too conveniently accessible, being necessary.

Still a further specific object of the present invention is to provide acollapsible framework for a chair, table or the like having a pair ofcrossed diagonal pivoted brace members which may be locked in anextended position by an improved linkage, the specific construction ofwhich embodies certain important aspects of the present invention.

Yet a further specic object of the present invention is to provide animproved suitable wheel chair characterized by its lightness andconstruction of a pair of end frame members which remain parallel to oneanother in their movement from one another from retracted to extendedpositions and vice versa, whereby the Wheel chair may be propelled andcollapsed and extended without much effort.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. This inventionitself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a front elevational View of a Wheel chair in its extendedposition embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the front elevational view of the wheel chair shown inFigure 1 in its retracted, folded or collapsed position.

Figure 3 shows a side elevational view of the wheel chair shown inFigure 1, the propelling and caster wheels being mounted on the chairfor convenient movement by a person grasping the steering handles I6.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 4 4 ofFigure l.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 ofFigure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 ofFigure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 ofFigure 3.

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 8`8 ofFigure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9--9 ofFigure 7.

Figure lO is a sectional view taken substantially on the luie ID-ID ofFigure 3.

Figu' l1 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line II-II ofFigure 4.

Figure 12 shows the elements in Figure ll in different positions; and

Figure 13 is a perspective View of a hinge structure shown in Figure 1.

The collapsible wheel chair comprises in general a pair of rigid sidemembers having the general reference numerals IIJ and II which are heldtogether in spaced parallel relationship with respect to one another inall positions thereof by the connecting pivoted linkage having thegeneral reference numeral I2, each rigid side member having mountedthereon a caster wheel I3, a propelling wheel I4, a collapsible footrestI5, a steering handle I6 and an adjacent end of a flexible leather seatmember I'I and flexible leather back member I8.

The rigid side members I and II are identical in construction and maycomprise an aluminium framework made of tubing suitably assembled.

The steering handles I6 are extensions of the vertical tubing IDA, IIAof end members II), II respectively, which are either welded orplug-f1tted at points intermediate their respective ends to the combinedarm rests and vertical supporting tubing IDB, I IB, the other end ofsuch tubing IIIB, IIB being rigidly secured to the forward end of thebottom horizontal frame member IUC, I IC having its rear end rigidlysecured to the bottom end of the frame member IIIA, IIA, respectively.Further, the rigid end members I0 and II have a pair of intermediatelydisposed horizontal tubing members IUD, IID and IE, IIE, respectively,with opposite ends thereof welded or plug-fitted to tubular framemembers IIIA, IIIB and IIA, IIB, respectively. It is noted that the endframes have the general reference numerals I0 and I I and individualparts thereof have respectively, the general reference numeral with acharacterizing letter appended thereto.

The propelling wheels I4 may be journaled for rotation at either one oftwo spaced points on each one of the end frame members I0 and II, therebeing provided for this purpose hollow bearing members IUF, IIF and IUG,IIG, respectively in tubing members IDA, IIA and IOB, IIB.Correspondingly, in similar manner the casters I4 may be mounted ateither one of two spaced points IIJH, IIH or IIlJ, IIJ, respectively onthe bottom horizontal tubing members IIlC, IIC, respectively, orsuitable extensions thereof.

The interchangeability of the propelling wheels I4 and caster wheels I3in the manner indicated immediately above allows the chair to be selfpropelled by the occupant thereof or to be conveniently propelled by onegrasping the steering handles I6. In the latter case, to facilitate thelifting of the chair over obstructions such as curbstones and the like,the rigid end members I0, II are each provided with an extension IDM,IIM, respectively. It is apparent that both the propelling wheel I4 andthe caster wheel I3 as shown in the tubings, may be releasably afxed tothe end members I0, II in such a manner that the chair may be convertedconveniently into one for self propulsion and one for movement by aperson grasping handles I6. In such case, the propelling wheel isdisassembled and assembled merely by unscrewing and screwing a fasteningnut and the caster wheel is correspondingly moved into position byunscrewing and screwing a plurality of fastening bolts.

The footrest I5 comprises two pivoted members I5A and I5B each pivotallymounted as a unit on the bottom ends of tubular members IDB, I IB,respectively, or extensions thereof, pivotal movement on the tubularmembers being limited by the faces ISC on member I 5A and pivotalmovement of the members I5A and I5B with respect to one another beinglimited by the face I5D on member IBB.

An important factor of the present invention is the manner in which theend members I0, II are secured to one another for parallel movement fromtheir retracted positions to their extended position and vice versa bythe connecting linkage having the general reference numeral I2.

The linkage I2 comprises: a pair of diagonal members IZA, IZB pivotallymounted at one of their ends respectively on frame members IUC, I IC andat their other ends on the pivot pins I2C and I2D with an intermediatepoint of each of such members I2A, I 2B pivotally mounted on a commonpivot pin IZE; the pivot pin I2C serves to pivotally connect adjacentends of link members I2E, I2F, I2G and I2H, the other ends of linkmembers I2E and I2G being pivotally mounted on the frame member IUE andthe other ends of the link members I2F and I2H be pivotally mounted onthe pivot pin I2J having the manually operable actuating handle I 2Kaflixed to one end thereof; the pivot pin I2D serves also to pivotallyconnect adjacent ends of link members I2M, I2N, I2P, I2Q the other endsof link members I2M and I2P being pivotally connected to the pivot pinI2J and the other ends of the link members I2N and I2Q being pivotallyconnected to the frame member IIE. Stop means I2S and I2T serve to limitrelative movement between link members I 2F and I2M on the one hand andI2H and I 2P on the other hand.

In order to move the parts of the wheel chair from their retracted,collapsed or folded position shown in Figure 2 to their extendedpositions shown in Figure l, it is necessary only that the steeringhandles I6 be grasped and moved apart whereupon the side frame members I0 and II move parallel to one another by the flexible linkage I2. Then,in order to fold or collapse the chair, it is essential that themanuable operable control handle I2K be manipulated by moving itupwardly against the exible leather seat member I'I. It is noted that inthe extended position of the chair, the pivot pin I2J is eifectivelyover its dead center position, in such case the axis of pivot pin I2J issomewhat lower than the axis of the parallel pivot pins I2C and I2D,Thus, in the extended position of the chair, essentially all of theweight of the person is transmitted from the person sitting on the chairto the supporting ground or floor directly through trie end frames Illand II inasmuch as opposite ends of the seat member I'I are attached tothe end members I0 and I I; and any equalizing force between such endmembers being transmitted on the one hand through link members I2N, IZQand I 2A and on the other hand through link members I2E, I2G and I2B andto a lesser extent through the link members |211', I2M, I2H and IZP,which link members remain in their over center position.

One feature of the present invention is that the chair may be extendedrather smartly with a snap action by tilting upwardly on the steeringhandles in Figure 2 to raise the propelling 'bil wheels I4 and then bysharply moving the handles I6 apart whereupon the linkage |211', I2M,I2H and LZP is moved to overcenter position.

Needless to say the chair cannot be collapsed while a person is sittingthereon inasmuch as he interferes with movement of the handle I2K, theupward movement of which is essential to collapsing the chair.

The seat member I'I and back member I8 may be of flexible material suchas leather. The seat member I'I may be yfastened to the frame members I0and II at opposite edges thereof by providing loops at such edgesthrough which the tubular portions IUD and I ID are slipped through,these tubular members IllD and IID are preferably semi-permanentlymounted by screws or the like to the tubular members IUB and I IB,respectively, whereby the seat member II may be easily replaced. Theback members I8 may be fastened to the tubular members IDA and IIA bylooping opposite ends thereof and maintaining such ends in loopedposition by means of snap fasteners or the like thereby to also allowthe back member I8 to be easily replaced as desired.

While I have described my invention in detail with respect to a foldingwheel chair, it is understood, as is apparent to one skilled in the artthat certain features of the wheel chair in particular, the pivoted linkstructure I2 may be incorporated in other chairs, folding invalidwalkers, camping equipment, lawn, steamer and patio chairs, as well asin picnic, card and tennis tables and similar articles.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appendedclaims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In folding articles of the character described, a pair of end framemembers, a pivoted linkage connecting said end frame members, saidpivoted linkage including a pair of diagonal brace members, each havingone of their ends pivotally connected to an adjacent end member andbeing pivotally connected at a point intermediate i-ts ends to saidother diagonal brace member, the other end of each diagonal brace memberbeing pivotally mounted on a respective pivot pin, a pair of linkmembers each pivoted to a corresponding one of said pivot pins and alsobeing pivotally mounted on the corresponding frame member, and a secondpair of link members having their adjacent ends pin connected and theirother ends pivotally connecting to a corresponding one of said pivotpins.

2. In folding articles of the character described, a pair of ered framemembers, a pivoted link structure connecting said end frame members andproviding parallel movement of the frame members when and as said framemembers are moved relative to one another, said pivoted link structurecomprising: a pair of diagonal brace members each having one of theirends pivotally connected to a corresponding frame member, said diagonalbrace members being pivotally connected at a point intermediate theirends, the free ends of said diagonal brace members each being pivotallymounted on a corresponding pair of link pins, a pair of link memberseach having one of their ends pivotally connected to a different framemember and the other one of their ends connected to a different linkpin, a pair of link members extending between and pivotally attached tosaid pair of link pins and being pivotally mounted on a third link pin,and an operable handle affixed to said third link pin.

3. In folding articles of the character described, a pair of spacedframe members, a pivoted linkage interposed between said frame membersto provide parallel movement of one frame member with respect to oneanother from an extended position to a retracted position and viceversa, said pivoted linkage comprising: four pivoted link membersserially connected between the frame members, each of the said four linkmembers being pivotally mounted with respect to the adjacent onethereof, a pair of diagonal brace members, each having one of their endspivotally connected to a different frame member and being pivotallyconnected intermediate its ends to said other diagonal brace member, thefree ends of said diagonal brace members each being pivotally connectedat intermediate pivotal points on said four serially connected linkmembers.

4. In folding articles of the type described, a pair of spaced framemembers, two pairs of link members serially connected between said framemembers, adjacent ends of said link members being pivotally mounted withrespect to one another, a manually operable handle member REFERENCESCITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,381,136 Ribeiro June 14, 19211,900,653 Machisella Mar. '7, 1933 2,104,255 Garbaccio Jan. 4, 19382,133,540` Jacobs Oct. 18, 1938 2,402,085 Rideout June 11, 19462,414,856 Cox Jan. 28, 1947

